War with Iran

So I do not believe in war in general, but I am definitely against another war on the same basis as we went into Iraq. I know there are a lot of tension between Iran and Israel, but can someone explain to me why we have to get involved? I'm not necessarily against getting involved in a war (ok, I am but in general) if it's not us leading that war. Why does it always have to be the US to wage and lead wars? I think if Iran attacked Israel then obviously the world would step up, but I do not think we should preemptively strike Iran just because Israel wants us to. Are they not able to deal with problems by themselves?

I don't think the United States has ever structured the money it gives to Israel as a gift. The United States is not just going to give away money without strings attached, and I am 100% certain the the government of Israel is very aware of that.

Why should any country give away gifts of money to another country with no strings attached? That just sounds insane. If the US did it, we would be the butt of every joke around the world.

Israel is free to stop accepting aid from the US at any time so that they can act without pissing off the US.

To claim Israel can just stop makes it clear you don't know how it was set up. Its basically set up that if they do, especially at a time when their national security is at risk, they are simply sitting ducks waiting to get picked off. The Israelis I 100% think agreed to insane terms. Like I said, Obama is finally changing those terms to give them their independance (and why I can't say at all that Obama is anti-Israel).

I guess I see aid differently than others. I DO see aid as a gift. One that this country hopes and hopes will pay off for them but sometimes doesn't. Sometimes gifts do come with upfront conditions. But they are upfront and a person can say no thanks if they don't agree to those conditions.

You honestly think the US wouldn't come to Israel's aid? I find that hard to believe.

As for the rest of the world, I believe that is up to them - each country has a sovereign right to not get involved in another country's business, and I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

In regard to aid to Israel - you can believe that aid is a gift, but that doesn't make it true. Obviously the US has never seen it that way. I have a hard time believing that Israel didn't know what it was getting itself into when it accepted that aid. Having now accepted that aid for years, Israel is angry that it can't just do whatever it likes with all the weapons we've bought for them without the US getting pissed off? Please.

So basically what your saying is that Israel is at the US's whim. Just admit it. Either they have sovereingty or not. Do you know the history of Israel? What the situation was like when they first accepted aid? Yes, it was a bad deal- I 100% agree but at the same time the US keeps changing the terms as they feel like it. And many times those terms DO get in the way of the Israelis protecting their own people.

As for the US jumping in if attacked- like I said, history speaks for itself. No, they will NOT.

The US was not always the biggest contributer to Israel in terms of military aid. Nor was the US always a "friend" to Israel. If the US stopped supplying military aid, and from my research, that is all the aid Israel receives from the US currently, Israel would most certainly find aid elsewhere. Or create it themselves. I would be willing to give up US aid. And I live in Israel.

America has never, not ONCE "helped" Israel in any war that we have had so far. We have fought for ourselves, against armies that were bigger, stronger and wealthier than ours (until now) and emerged victorious.

So, no. We don't need the US to back us up.

But the US does need Israel. Israel is the only friendly, civilized country that is friendly to the US in the middle east. It would be stupid to give that up. On your part (for those of you who are American).